Introduction

The finance function is undergoing a digital transformation — and user experience (UX) is now at the center of it. As finance professionals increasingly rely on Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) platforms for planning, consolidation, and analysis, their expectations are shifting toward simplicity, speed, and interactivity.

Gone are the days when only IT teams could navigate complex dashboards or create reports. Modern finance teams demand self-service analytics, intuitive EPM dashboards, and low-code tools that empower them to manage performance independently. In today’s data-driven landscape, UX and accessibility define EPM success as much as accuracy or automation.

The Challenge: Complex Systems, Limited Adoption

Traditional EPM tools were powerful but often too technical. Finance users depended on IT teams or data specialists for everything — from setting up dashboards to extracting reports. This dependency created an “IT bottleneck”, slowing down insight generation and decision-making.

Poor usability also led to low adoption rates, meaning organizations weren’t realizing the full value of their EPM investments. Without an engaging and accessible interface, even the most sophisticated analytics tools struggle to gain traction among business users.

For EPM modernization to succeed, the focus must shift from “system capability” to user empowerment.

Rise of Self-Service Dashboards in Modern EPM

Modern EPM dashboards have transformed how finance teams work. Through self-service capabilities, users can now explore data, create visualizations, and analyze KPIs — all without relying on IT.

Key features of these dashboards include:

• Drag-and-drop visualization: Easily customize reports and charts based on evolving business needs.
  
  
• Real-time KPI tracking: Monitor performance metrics across departments, geographies, and business units instantly.
  
  
• Cross-functional insights: Enable collaboration between finance, operations, and strategy teams through shared dashboards.
  
  

Self-service dashboards foster agility and accountability, helping finance leaders make informed decisions faster.

Learn more about CCG’s approach to Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) and how it integrates user-friendly, AI-powered dashboards for better insight generation.

Low-Code No-Code Innovation in Finance

The emergence of low-code EPM tools is redefining how finance applications are built and managed. With minimal technical expertise, users can design workflows, build custom reports, and automate repetitive tasks — reducing dependency on IT teams.

Low-code and no-code platforms empower finance professionals to:

• Rapidly customize applications based on business priorities.
  
  
• Accelerate implementation cycles for new reporting modules.
  
  
• Experiment and innovate without disrupting existing systems.
  
  

This democratization of EPM technology bridges the gap between technical complexity and user accessibility, enabling finance teams to move from static reporting to dynamic performance management.

CCG’s Digital Transformation Services help organizations implement flexible, low-code EPM environments that adapt quickly to business change.

Benefits of Improved User Experience

When user experience in EPM becomes a strategic priority, the results extend beyond aesthetics — it transforms how finance teams operate.

Key benefits include:

• Higher adoption rates: Intuitive tools encourage consistent usage and deeper engagement.
  
  
• Reduced IT dependency: Finance teams gain autonomy in managing data, dashboards, and reports.
  
  
• Faster decision-making: Real-time data access enables quicker responses to business shifts.
  
  
• Enhanced collaboration: Clear visualization and shared insights promote cross-departmental alignment.
  
  

Ultimately, better UX drives both productivity and strategic agility — essential for modern finance transformation.

Examples of UX-Driven EPM Transformation

Consider a global enterprise that replaced its legacy reporting system with a self-service EPM platform. By introducing interactive dashboards and low-code workflows, the organization reduced its financial close cycle by 30% and empowered analysts to generate real-time insights without IT support.

Another example involves integrating business intelligence (BI) and predictive analytics within EPM dashboards. CFOs gained greater visibility into future performance trends, improving forecasting accuracy and strategic planning.

These transformations highlight how user-centric EPM solutions can directly enhance organizational performance and resilience.

Conclusion

The future of EPM is user-driven, not IT-driven. Organizations that prioritize intuitive design, accessibility, and low-code flexibility are better positioned to accelerate financial transformation and empower their teams.

Constellation Consulting Group (CCG) helps enterprises implement self-service EPM systems that combine strong governance with exceptional user experience — enabling finance professionals to focus on insights, not interfaces.

? Explore how CCG helps organizations deploy intuitive, self-service EPM systems with low-code flexibility.